Company: Perspektiiv Design Co
Guests: Alison Gardner
Year Started: 2014
Employees: 1-10
Burnout. Boundaries. And a baby on the way. When designer Alison Gardner realized her solo hustle was no longer sustainable, she didn’t double down, she stepped back and restructured. In this episode of An Agency Story, Alison shares how she built Perspektiiv Design Co into a collaborative agency that supports her life, not the other way around. If you’re wondering how to keep your creativity alive while growing your team, or what it really takes to make space for both business and family, this episode is packed with grounded, honest insights.
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Episode Summary
This week on An Agency Story, we welcome Alison Gardner, founder of Perspektiiv Design Co, a full-service creative studio rooted in design, heritage, and intentional leadership. Alison shares her journey from early freelance gigs to leading a team of designers while navigating life changes like relocation, burnout, and motherhood.
Episode Highlights:
- Why Alison left a corporate design job at 23 to start freelancing on her own terms
- The moment she realized her creativity and well-being couldn’t coexist with doing everything herself
- How she prepared her team, and business, for a 4-month maternity leave
- What hiring for both creativity and communication taught her about leadership
- The method she uses to clarify her role, team responsibilities, and eliminate unnecessary work
Key Takeaways and Lessons
Build structure before burnout forces your hand
Alison admits she waited too long to ask for help, but when she finally brought on a business coach, it changed everything. From documenting processes to hiring intentionally, structure gave her the clarity and capacity to step into a leadership role and build a team around her.
Hiring isn’t just about talent, it’s about trust
Alison struggled to find someone who wasn’t just a skilled designer but also communicative and organized. Her breakthrough came from collaborating with freelancers first and using a defined checklist to filter for culture fit and reliability, not just portfolio quality.
Slow seasons are an opportunity, not a setback
Instead of panicking during a lull in client work, Alison leans into reflection. She uses downtime to refine pricing, update pitch decks, improve systems, and invest in her team with things like coffee chats and dinners that build connection and clarity.
You don’t need to be on every call
Stepping back during maternity leave forced Alison to let go of some client interactions—and in doing so, she discovered her team could shine without her. It opened the door for more autonomy across the studio and allowed her to focus on business development and creative strategy, instead of day-to-day management.
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